- Joined
- May 29, 2007
- Messages
- 4,120
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[TABLE="class: grid, width: 700, align: left"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Chiefs
(
1)
[/TD]
[TD]Each week this Chiefs team reveals something new to us: In their first game we saw some some sound defence, their second brought with it the knowledge that the Chiefs are capable of coming from behind to win, and playing for the full 80 minutes. In the match this weekend the Chiefs unveiled how devastating they can be both from set piece and broken play. This team has everything, and has the best ability to win this competition, hands down.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]Sharks
(
1)
[/TD]
[TD]The Sharks managed to resolutely shut down the Reds during the weekend, even if they did let them back in a bit near the end. They've shown already this season that they have contingency plans in place if any of their key players go down, but they're starting to lose a few players to injury now and will be tested in coming weeks, especially when they leave home to battle against the Bulls this weekend.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]Waratahs
(
1)
[/TD]
[TD]The top three Australian teams are all on equal footing when playing one another, as shown when the Brumbies took it to the conference topping Waratahs over the weekend. It's likely that the Waratahs will learn a lot from their loss, and given it's early in the season yet they will probably benefit in the long run from the smashing they received. They will have to sure up their set piece, however, so as to give their scintillating backs the space to shine.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]Brumbies
(
4)
[/TD]
[TD]Not to be undone by the Sydneysiders, the Brumbies have decided it's not time to come alive. Apart from their first up loss to the Reds, the Brumbies have shown they're still a quality outfit without super coach Jake White. With a few top players still to return from injury, the Brumbies will contest the Oz conference with the Waratahs, and with better finals experience will be well placed to trump the NSW men at the final hurdle.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]Bulls
(
5)
[/TD]
[TD]The Bulls have slowly started to build, and are probably the dark horse this season. They lost a number of experienced players from last season but have started to recall many older heads such as Matfield, JL Potgeiter and now Deweld Potgeiter. With a nice blend of experience and potential, plus a generally favourable draw (tour matches against the Highlanders, Hurricanes, Waratahs and Force), the Bulls are well placed to upset a few other ***le contenders this year.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]Crusaders
(
1)
[/TD]
[TD]Things are starting to look up, down in Crusader land. Everyone knows the Crusaders are a second-half-of-the-season kind of team, and even with their poor start so far they've managed to grab a place in the middle of the table. Only two teams are unbeaten so far, which means that it's a very tight competition - the kind of competition the Crusaders excel it. Watch this space.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]Reds
(
4)
[/TD]
[TD]After a fantastic start against the Brumbies, the Reds have started to falter. The Waratahs resoundingly thumped them and the Reds display against the Cheetahs was hardly inspiring. Neverless, this is a quality outfit, and they should bounce back this week against a Lions team performing beyond their best. Some of their younger players, such as Chris Feauai-Sautia, are starting to shine, and will keep improving with regular game time.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]Blues
(
5)
[/TD]
[TD]This Blues team is not a complete package - they're too frail, especially when injury strikes. However, with men like Kaino and Nonu returning to the fold, as well as the eventual return of Saili and Mealamu, the Blues will roll on and destroy many a team in their wake. At some point this team will come across some consistent form, and probably upset many ***le bids in the process.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]Hurricanes
(
2)
[/TD]
[TD]Were it not for Beauden Barrett, the Hurricanes would probably still be languishing in last place. He almost single-handedly demolished the Cheetah in the weekend, and came close to beating the Brumbies on his own too. Smylie looked sharp at the base of the ruck, and if that means the Hurricanes stop kicking position away and start attacking more then they'll be a much better team for it. Does this team even have a defence coach?[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]Force
(
5)
[/TD]
[TD]The Force are finally starting to do something right that they've never really managed to do in the past - the basics. They didn't show anything flashy against the Highlanders, at times they were even downright boring, but they managed to score four tries regardless. If they continue to suffocate teams they will go far in this competition, though the loss of the inspirational Ben McCalman for two weeks will be hard to deal with.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]Highlanders
(
5)
[/TD]
[TD]Ostensibly, the Chiefs have used co-captains effectively over the last three years. The Highlanders have tried to emulate that this year, giving the roles to Nasi Manu and Ben Smith. At the Chiefs, however, Messam is more of a 'follow me' kind of leader, whereas Cruden and Clarke have been the decision makers. At the Highlanders it looks like they've failed to elect anyone to be the latter type of captain.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]Cheetahs
(
3)
[/TD]
[TD]Last year the Cheetahs built their playoff surge on their brilliant overseas tour, where they won three of their four matches. This year it looks like they won't be able to muster up one. Willie Le Roux can't win this competition on his own, as much as he may try, but perhaps the Cheetahs would do a bit better if he was a bit closer to the action? Johan Goosen has been unimpressive at getting the backline moving, so why not give Le Roux a shot at first five?[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]Lions
(
8)
[/TD]
[TD]Has this Lions team been revitalised from their year off, or have they merely managed to win matches against under performing teams? Me thinks it's the latter. Boshoff has been the sole reason for the Lions' success so far this season, so watch as the coach drops him back to the bench in the next few weeks and gaze upon the sudden capitulation of the side.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]Stormers
(-)
[/TD]
[TD]In the next three weeks the Stormers will face Australia's top three sides. With so much at stake in the Australian conference, and such a strong benchmark this year, these teams will throw everything they have at a tiring Stormers outfit, and will likely succeed in besting them. Someone needs to add some spark to this backline, could the recalled Peter Grant be the man to do the job?[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]Rebels
(
3)
[/TD]
[TD]The Rebels promised a lot this year, especially after an explosive start against the Cheetahs. Since then, however, they've had little to no direction from first five, and have struggled to break down strong defences. The Crusaders make up for a flaw like this by having impeccable defence of their own. The Rebels have no such strength to fall back on.[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Chiefs
(
[TD]Each week this Chiefs team reveals something new to us: In their first game we saw some some sound defence, their second brought with it the knowledge that the Chiefs are capable of coming from behind to win, and playing for the full 80 minutes. In the match this weekend the Chiefs unveiled how devastating they can be both from set piece and broken play. This team has everything, and has the best ability to win this competition, hands down.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]Sharks
(
[TD]The Sharks managed to resolutely shut down the Reds during the weekend, even if they did let them back in a bit near the end. They've shown already this season that they have contingency plans in place if any of their key players go down, but they're starting to lose a few players to injury now and will be tested in coming weeks, especially when they leave home to battle against the Bulls this weekend.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]Waratahs
(
[TD]The top three Australian teams are all on equal footing when playing one another, as shown when the Brumbies took it to the conference topping Waratahs over the weekend. It's likely that the Waratahs will learn a lot from their loss, and given it's early in the season yet they will probably benefit in the long run from the smashing they received. They will have to sure up their set piece, however, so as to give their scintillating backs the space to shine.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]Brumbies
(
[TD]Not to be undone by the Sydneysiders, the Brumbies have decided it's not time to come alive. Apart from their first up loss to the Reds, the Brumbies have shown they're still a quality outfit without super coach Jake White. With a few top players still to return from injury, the Brumbies will contest the Oz conference with the Waratahs, and with better finals experience will be well placed to trump the NSW men at the final hurdle.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]Bulls
(
[TD]The Bulls have slowly started to build, and are probably the dark horse this season. They lost a number of experienced players from last season but have started to recall many older heads such as Matfield, JL Potgeiter and now Deweld Potgeiter. With a nice blend of experience and potential, plus a generally favourable draw (tour matches against the Highlanders, Hurricanes, Waratahs and Force), the Bulls are well placed to upset a few other ***le contenders this year.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]Crusaders
(
[TD]Things are starting to look up, down in Crusader land. Everyone knows the Crusaders are a second-half-of-the-season kind of team, and even with their poor start so far they've managed to grab a place in the middle of the table. Only two teams are unbeaten so far, which means that it's a very tight competition - the kind of competition the Crusaders excel it. Watch this space.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]Reds
(
[TD]After a fantastic start against the Brumbies, the Reds have started to falter. The Waratahs resoundingly thumped them and the Reds display against the Cheetahs was hardly inspiring. Neverless, this is a quality outfit, and they should bounce back this week against a Lions team performing beyond their best. Some of their younger players, such as Chris Feauai-Sautia, are starting to shine, and will keep improving with regular game time.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]Blues
(
[TD]This Blues team is not a complete package - they're too frail, especially when injury strikes. However, with men like Kaino and Nonu returning to the fold, as well as the eventual return of Saili and Mealamu, the Blues will roll on and destroy many a team in their wake. At some point this team will come across some consistent form, and probably upset many ***le bids in the process.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]Hurricanes
(
[TD]Were it not for Beauden Barrett, the Hurricanes would probably still be languishing in last place. He almost single-handedly demolished the Cheetah in the weekend, and came close to beating the Brumbies on his own too. Smylie looked sharp at the base of the ruck, and if that means the Hurricanes stop kicking position away and start attacking more then they'll be a much better team for it. Does this team even have a defence coach?[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]Force
(
[TD]The Force are finally starting to do something right that they've never really managed to do in the past - the basics. They didn't show anything flashy against the Highlanders, at times they were even downright boring, but they managed to score four tries regardless. If they continue to suffocate teams they will go far in this competition, though the loss of the inspirational Ben McCalman for two weeks will be hard to deal with.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]Highlanders
(
[TD]Ostensibly, the Chiefs have used co-captains effectively over the last three years. The Highlanders have tried to emulate that this year, giving the roles to Nasi Manu and Ben Smith. At the Chiefs, however, Messam is more of a 'follow me' kind of leader, whereas Cruden and Clarke have been the decision makers. At the Highlanders it looks like they've failed to elect anyone to be the latter type of captain.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]Cheetahs
(
[TD]Last year the Cheetahs built their playoff surge on their brilliant overseas tour, where they won three of their four matches. This year it looks like they won't be able to muster up one. Willie Le Roux can't win this competition on his own, as much as he may try, but perhaps the Cheetahs would do a bit better if he was a bit closer to the action? Johan Goosen has been unimpressive at getting the backline moving, so why not give Le Roux a shot at first five?[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]Lions
(
[TD]Has this Lions team been revitalised from their year off, or have they merely managed to win matches against under performing teams? Me thinks it's the latter. Boshoff has been the sole reason for the Lions' success so far this season, so watch as the coach drops him back to the bench in the next few weeks and gaze upon the sudden capitulation of the side.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]Stormers
(-)
[TD]In the next three weeks the Stormers will face Australia's top three sides. With so much at stake in the Australian conference, and such a strong benchmark this year, these teams will throw everything they have at a tiring Stormers outfit, and will likely succeed in besting them. Someone needs to add some spark to this backline, could the recalled Peter Grant be the man to do the job?[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]Rebels
(
[TD]The Rebels promised a lot this year, especially after an explosive start against the Cheetahs. Since then, however, they've had little to no direction from first five, and have struggled to break down strong defences. The Crusaders make up for a flaw like this by having impeccable defence of their own. The Rebels have no such strength to fall back on.[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
